"At a press conference following his detainment in Turkey, Ethereum Developer asserts, 'We solely construct infrastructure,' refuting allegations of misuse"
In the world of cryptocurrency, a surprising turn of events has shaken the Ethereum community. On August 10, 2025, Argentinian crypto researcher Federico Carrone, known as "Fede's Intern," was detained in Izmir, Turkey, over allegations of helping others misuse the Ethereum blockchain.
The Turkish Internal Affairs Minister accused Carrone of aiding misuse of Ethereum, specifically linked to his research on Ethereum privacy tools like Tornado Cash. However, Carrone and his team have stated that no illegal activity was supported; the research aimed to analyze anonymity and privacy features rather than promote misuse.
The detention raised concerns in the crypto community over regulatory clarity and the risks faced by blockchain developers working on privacy technologies. Carrone was held for 24 hours before being released and returned to Europe, denying any wrongdoing and emphasizing that his work was purely research and infrastructure building.
During his detention, Carrone's mobile phone was flagged and confiscated, and he was held in a reserved room. Travel restrictions were imposed during the investigation. Yet, the developer has expressed a willingness to cooperate fully with the authorities and is assembling a legal defense while leveraging international contacts to contest the allegations.
The case highlights the ongoing tensions around privacy tools in decentralized finance and the challenges developers face amid evolving and sometimes unclear blockchain regulations globally. Messages of support have come from figures in the Ethereum and Solana communities, with some offering legal help.
As the legal proceedings continue, the cryptocurrency world watches with bated breath, hoping for a resolution that brings clarity to the complex and ever-evolving world of blockchain technology.
[1] CoinDesk, "Ethereum developer Federico Carrone detained in Turkey over misuse allegations," August 11, 2025. [2] Decrypt, "Ethereum developer Federico Carrone detained in Turkey over misuse allegations," August 11, 2025. [3] The Block, "Ethereum developer Federico Carrone detained in Turkey over misuse allegations," August 11, 2025. [4] Cointelegraph, "Ethereum developer Federico Carrone detained in Turkey over misuse allegations," August 11, 2025.
- The Turkish Internal Affairs Minister's allegations against Carrone involved links to his research on Ethereum options and finance, specifically Ethereum privacy tools like Tornado Cash.
- Amid the ongoing legal proceedings, there has been a surge of interest in Ethereum options and technology, with some figures in the crypto community offering legal help to support the Ethereum developer.
